Tallahassee, FL (Mar. 8-9, 2002)

Friday Night
We started things off with the Doughnut Contest. Raging Steel and Iron Warrior had a little trouble getting the floor just right. Raging Steel received 14 points. Iron Warrior got 15 points. It seemed the floor was just right for Randy Brown, who brought Pure Adrenaline around for a score of 25 points. Then Bruce Haney from Clearwater, FL spun Bad News for 28 points. The stage was set for World Finals qualifier, Scott Hartsock. Scott loaded all six chambers and began to fire. After the smoke cleared, Gunslinger emerged victorious with a perfect score of 30 points.

In the Wheelie Contest all the trucks did an outstanding job of getting vertical. Glen Bolin with Iron Warrior put it up in the air for an impressive 21 points. Then came Scott Hartsock, appearing in his very first Thunder Nationals. He pulled the trigger and ended up with 25 points, and the first round Wheelie Championship.

In Freestyle, everyone stepped up and performed like they were in Vegas. Raging Steel pulled 21 points out of the Judges. Bad News scored 20 points. Glen Bolin, at age 53, impressed the judges for a score of 24 points. Then Scott Hartsock cocked the hammer and fired off a round of Freestyle the fans will never forget. He was getting some major air, doing wheelies and long jumps. He ended it with a smoking doughnut. The judges awarded Gunslinger with a perfect score of 30 points.

Scott Hartsock, in his first Thunder National's, took the Triple Crown in the first half by winning the Doughnut, Wheelies, and the Freestyle competitions. An outstanding appearance by Gunslinger.

In Monster Racing, Gunslinger got the by run for winning Freestyle. Raging Steel beat Iron Warrior. Pure Adrenaline jumped the start before the light went green and Bad News advanced on to round two.

In round two, Bad News torched Raging Steel to advance to the finals and Iron Warrior lined up on the Southern Ford Dealers starting line next to Gunslinger. When the light went green, they both went full throttle and launched those monsters across the finish line. Everyone thought the winner was Gunslinger, but after watching the instant replay on the Jumbotron screen...it was clear the winner Glen Bolin and Iron Warrior.

Monster Finals, the stage was set for two of Florida's greatest monsters: Bruce Haney and Bad News vs. 53 year old Glen Bolin and Iron Warrior. The fans were pumped as the black and white checkered flags filled the arena. When the dust settled, it was Iron Warrior from Meyers, FL, as the winner.

Saturday Night
You could tell something big was going to happen by the electric that was sparking through the civic center, myself, the USHRA Officials, even the Drivers could tell this wasn't going to be just any monster truck show. We started off with he Doughnut Contest and this is where everything started to heat up. Raging steel scored 15 points. Iron Warrior had a great doughnut for 23 points. Gunslinger smoked the tires for 29 points. Randy Brown and Pure Adrenaline would have had a perfect score if I'd been judging, but the judges only gave him 28 points. Bad News did an awesome doughnut for 29 points to tie with Gunslinger. We had the fans cheer for who they think should win the doughnut contest. They cheered the loudest for Gunslinger, but I though all the drivers did a fantastic job.

In the Wheelie Contest, Raging Steel went up for 18 points. Bad News got 16 points. Glen Bolin and Iron Warrior impressed the fans and the judges for 22 points. Gunslinger scored 18 points. Then Randy Brown and Pure Adrenaline stepped up to the plate. When Randy mashed the pedal he and Pure Adrenaline went vertical. When the landed he crushed the tailgate a little, but that's nothing for Randy Brown, because he did what he set out to do, win the Wheelie Contest.

This was the best Thunder National's Freestyle I've ever had the privilege to announce. Raging Steel started off for 25 points. Then Bruce Haney and Bad News cut er lose for 21 points. Then Glen Bolin brought the Iron Warrior on the floor and opened it up for an impressive score of 27 points. Nice job for a young man of 53 years old. Randy Brown, not to be out done, took Pure Adrenaline to new heights for a perfect score of 30 points. Last but definitely not least, Scott Hartsock brought Gunslinger out and tore up the track for a perfect score of 30 points. The tie was broken by the fans and they like Gunslinger's performance the best. What great Freestyle Contest by all the drivers.

In round one of racing, Pure Adrenaline took out Bad News and Gunslinger got past Steve Renolds and Raging Steel to advance.

Monster Finals: Randy Brown and Pure Adrenaline lined up against Gunslinger. When the light turned green, Scott Hartsock gunned down Pure Adrenaline like a true Gunslinger.

Mike West put together a very entertaining show. Mike Walsh, Mike Maver, Scott Poirier did a great job on the floor all weekend. And from all the staff, we would like to say THANK YOU to James Green and Family with Sheffield Auto Body, not only for bringing in the crush cars already painted, but also for treating us to a Tallahassee Tailgate Party at Gunslinger's Rig Saturday Afternoon with BBQ Ribs, Chicken, Fried Shrimp, Grouper, and all the trimmings!

Thanks Tallahassee! See you next year.
Chip Ridgely USHRA Announcer